I live with my mother and her 16 year old Maltese, Kasha. In my opinion (and my sister's) Kasha is in a bad place and my mom is in denial. Kasha whimpers when she drinks and eats; she suffers from anxiety and cries, whines, and whimpers incessantly whenever my mother leaves the house, or even when Mom is home but upstairs while Kasha is downstairs. She cannot or will not climb stairs any longer, another issue I believe.
Last, and not least, she refuses to go outside to pee or poop and therefore does both inside, including peeing on my mother's bed, next to where Mom sleeps. Kasha was never truly house trained, but she used to go outside most of the time, but now it is nearly an everyday occurrence to have her urinate and/or defecate in some room inside the house.
There is also the fact that her eyes get "crusted over" and she may or may not see 100 per cent. Given all of the above I honestly feel she does not have a good life and perhaps it is her time to go to "her better place". When I say this to Mom, however, she claims it is because the dog annoys me and I just want to be rid of her. This is not true! While I think most people would be somewhat "annoyed" if forced to live with dog pee and poop as well as with a dog who can literally whine for 10 hours or more straight, my nerves are not the reason. I believe it might be time to say goodbye, rather, my heart aches for her suffering and I sincerely believe it is cruel for her to continue the way she is. I have had to 'put down' three beloved pets (a dog and two cats) in the space of one year due to illness and age in all three and I know the pain and feelings of loss, and that it is not easy. I feel for Mom and Kasha. Any thoughts on this situation? Thanks.
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The constant whimpering and refusal to climb stairs suggests arthritis. You can get the vet to prescribe a pain drug or anti-inflammatory drug, assuming they agree this is the case. Also, can your mom simply carry the dog upstairs? A Maltese will easily fit into a baby sling.
Dogs do not need to see 100 percent or at all. As long as they are in a familiar place they can tell everything by smell. Use a warm water washcloth to gently wash the eyes daily.
I agree, it is time that the incontinent dog experiencing pain and anxiety issues cross that "rainbow bridge." Your mother will never agree. Yes, she is in denial. She's had the dog many years and is emotionally dependent on the dog. This is what your mom wants, not what the dog needs. But I doubt you'll ever be able to convince her of that. I'd suggest mitigating the dog's problems as much as possible so you both will be happier.
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